Disclosed herein are an electronic device and a method for processing messages. The electronic device includes a display unit, a communication unit configured to receive a message from an external device, a storage unit storing a message source list and an unregistered message box, and a control unit configured to determine whether source information of the received message is registered in the message source list, if the source information is not registered in the message source list, store the message in the unregistered message box, and if the source information is registered in the message source list, display by the display unit at least a part of the received message.